Do you limit the tools you train with?
By tool, I mean the resistance implements you lift with.
Many limit their training tools to one or two types of resistance. “I only use barbells.” “I only need body weight resistance.”
Can you see how this can be slowing you down?
Additionally many people center all of their goals around the tool. “I want to press the 40kg kettlebell” “I want to do ten muscle ups on the rings”
Can you see the limitations of goals focused exclusively on the tool?
My observation is this; people lose track of their desired result and instead become “kettlebell lifters” or “body weight trainers” or “runners.”
Is that a problem?
Is there a reason to only train with kettebells? Yes. If you sell kettlebells its really good for others to only use kettlebells. If you sell kettlebell certifications, then its really good for others to only use kettlebells.
For you as an athlete- does the kettlebell deliver all of the things YOU want?
Is there a reason to exclude other forms of training in order to run more? Do you run 5 miles a day because you love to run, or because you think running 5 miles is the key to fat loss?
Are you swinging clubs around for 30 minutes because you love to swing clubs, or is it because you want to get away from shoulder pain?
Are you currently doing random selections of high variety/high intensity exercises with low specific application for arbitrary periods of time because you enjoy it, or is it because you think it will give you athletic domination in your sport?
Tool/equipment focused training
There are more companies selling equipment right now than any other time, and of course each offers their own certification which you can buy to be certified to use the equipment.
This is a great business to be in, all you need to do is convince people the answer to their problems is using this piece of equipment.
What happens when you build your goals around the equipment or companies expectations?
Can you reach your goals with this equipment?
Do the use of this tool preclude you from using other ones?
Is there an alternative?
What about result focused training?
Want to gain more muscle and lose more fat?
What if you focused on what makes the tape measure more?
What if in your pursuit of a leaner body you stopped worrying about the tool you used and instead focused on the end results?
So what if instead of excluding tools, you just do what works?
Imagine what could happen?
Barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, cables, maces, clubs, body weight movements, sleds, hammers, machines, insert whatever I didn’t mention.
This is not a call to action to stop doing anything.
This is a call to action to expand your methods, stop shaping your body after your tools, and return to doing what will work for your goals.
{ 6 comments }
I treat training like I treat my dating life………..I love variation, you know blondes, brunettes, plumpy, skinny etc etc etc. I do it all in spurts. some weeks I do all body weight because I just happen to be in the mood for it, other weeks I do heavy deads, squats, presses, some weeks I do whatever the hell I want everytime I feel like working out. Some days instead of going to the gym I’ll stay home and carry a 150lb rock for 1/2 mile one way and then back to my house just because its different and exciting. I find this wide assortment keeps me ready for a variety of situations and keeps me good at all my lifting styles, plus I’m always stimulated.
Word to that Jeremy!
In my life I have one thing that I won’t switch or change, my wife. Everything else is game on. Especially training implements. I’m no spring chicken, but I feel like a tenacious teenager physically. I give credit to my mind set and the variety of training tools I choose. Face it, if training is going to be a lifelong pursuit, you HAVE to make it engaging and exciting to keep going. I don’t have ADD, but cannot imagine limiting myself to one or a handful of tools. Use everything, get better!
Adam, thanks for grabbing my camera.
find a movement that you want or help your goal , test it if it feels good do it, retest change position retest, rethink iif that does not work do opposite keep moving track take control of your own shit keep learning
Liberation from a single tool has been fantastic for my progress and enthusiasm in movement. I WAS very stuck grinding away on the same tool week after week, sure that I just wasn’t trying hard enough.
Very different now for me and those that train with me. Had great fun the other evening when I basically threw a resistance band to a woman I was working with and challenged her to “find what tests well and show me what you can do”. Amazing the variety she came up with and the joy of experimentation! She got some great movement in, had a ball, and was moving fluidly and powerfully at the end of the session. Pure Gold.
Variety and learning new stuff is one of my life’s motto, so I can only agree with what’s been said.
It *is* surprising to find so many people stuck to their own thing they’re used to and won’t explore anything else, if only for the sake of exploring.
If it’s barbell one day and KB the next day, why not then go to rocks or tires or a 1000lbs boat? Everything goes.
Variety is what makes it all exciting!